Quote of the Day by Juliet Madamombe

April 16, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“There is no next opportunity that is better than the one you have at this moment. Too often we spend too much time attempting to perfect something that we haven’t started. Don’t let past mistakes define who you are.”

Juliet Madamombe, founder of Global Edge Training Institute (Namibia)

Entrepreneur Advice from Georgina Angélica / Have a clear vision

April 16, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Georgina Angélica, specialist education and professional development consultant, Angola

Have a clear vision…

“I strongly believe that you need to have a clear vision and mission to drive all your steps, so you don’t get lost when challenges come. I feel that a mentor to guide you is also a great asset to success.”

Georgina Angélica, specialist education and professional development consultant (Angola)

Minimise Cyber-Attacks During Covid-19

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Adv. Lufuno Khorommbi, Cyber Law Consultant and MD: Orizur Consulting Enterprise

Did you know that using public WiFi increases your online vulnerability? Public WiFi comes as a great relief to many internet users since it relieves them from the burden of having to pay for data to access the much-needed internet services. These free services are conveniently available in public places like airports, restaurants, hotels, malls, etc in that promoting amongst others users’ productivity and mobility.

Regenerative Economics. Rethinking your business and life options.

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally

Together we are conceiving of the complexity and fragility of the living ecosystem we have always been a part of, but perhaps never before so harshly experienced.

How to find your happy place at home

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Michelle Wilbraham, Entrepreneur and Virtual Assistant at VA Connect

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic that we are all facing at present I thought that it would be very appropriate to encourage everyone to find that place that you can call your happy place.

Payment holiday. What you should know.

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste CA(SA), Financial Consultant, Speaker and Author of ‘Financially Fit and Wealthy’

Covid-19 certainly calls for extreme measures. The financial impact on individuals and businesses is extreme. The impact on the economy is extreme. Individuals and businesses are desperately looking for solutions to carry them through the lockdown period as well as the recovery phase thereafter. Most banks and other credit providers have offered payment holidays. Payment holidays are a welcome relief and definitely one solution to consider. It is however important to fully understand what a payment holiday entails and what the impact is over the longer-term.

Quote of the Day by Sian Louw

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Remember to believe in yourself and hold the clarity of the vision all day, every day. You have what it takes to live your best life and make your business a huge success.”

Sian Louw, ceo and owner of The Pacific Institute Swaziland (eSwatini)

Entrepreneur Advice from Femi Oyedipe / Have big goals

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Femi Oyedipe, founder, Loshes Chocolate, Nigeria

Have big goals…

“Show up every day, no matter what. Have the BIG goals but break them down into smaller ones that you can execute day-to-day.”

Femi Oyedipe, founder, Loshes Chocolate, Nigeria

Quote of the Day by Catia Mondlane

April 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“It is more than an entrepreneurial journey. It is an enlightening life purpose. It is beyond the brilliant ideas one has, or the amount of money one wants to make.”

Cátia Mondlane, founder of Isabella Estética & Cosméticos (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Farida Yahya / Lead with empathy

April 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Farida Yahya, founder, Lumo Naturals, Nigeria

Lead with empathy…

“As a female founder, you should never feel pressured to lead like the boys. There is nothing wrong in leading with empathy.”

Farida Yahya, founder, Lumo Naturals, Nigeria

Eva Sonaike, a luxury interior and lifestyle brand builder with a vibrant West-African aesthetic

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

There is a growing global interest in African design, textiles and products, and talented Nigerian interior designer and lifestyle brand creator, Eva Sonaike, is taking the world by storm on the back of this trend. Her aim is to position the 'African' aesthetic in the global textiles and interior industry as part of her bigger brand-building picture.

Shaden Abushaera, an Algerian entrepreneur creating an online platform for emerging women-focused brands

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Shaden Abushaera, founder of HeraCloset Online (Algeria)

Startup Story

Shaden Abushaera, founder of HeraCloset Online, knows what her customers want when looking for clothing that meets their lifestyle needs. Her dream was simple; to create a new world of self-expression for independent local artists and to help them sell their creations in a meaningful way.

Ruth Wewura Guribie, a Ghanaian cosmetics brand builder celebrating the natural power of shea butter

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Wewura Guribie, founder of Sava Shea Company Limited (Ghana)

Startup Story

For decades, women across the African continent have known how good shea butter is for the skin. Now, Ruth Wewura Guribie, the founder of Sava Shea Company Limited in Ghana, is creating a natural skincare brand that celebrates this much-loved local ingredient.

Coronavirus / 8 practical steps to get your employee communication right

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

In the world of entrepreneurship, the founder of the business is the most trusted of all social messengers when it comes to effective communication – beating business in general, government, media and NGOs by 20-point margins. When the founder speaks, people listen, in particular employees — and the tone, accuracy and relevance of employers’ advice can make all the difference between calm and panic in this current, unsettling crisis situation.

LIONESS LAUNCH / Mozambique’s Black Khakhela launches new natural hair and skin care range

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique)

Lioness Launch

For conscious consumers looking to buy proudly Mozambican natural skin and haircare products, entrepreneur Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela has the answer. She is launching a new range of ten products that celebrate Mozambican culture and ingredients, and which are completely natural. Fans of Carmen’s business and brand will be delighted to see this new range as it is not only of the highest quality, but also supports the growth of a local cosmetics industry in the country.

COVID-19 Funding Relief landscape in South Africa

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

woman-sitting-on-white-couch-using-laptop-computer-3960127.jpg

Impact Partner Content: Absa

The recent global health crisis has many of us deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of our family, friends and employees. Not to mention the impact it has on us as business owners. We may consider a multitude of strategies, tactics and angles, but at the end of the day it effectively comes down to one thing – the lifeblood of our businesses…cashflow!

Interest rate cut. Take advantage.

April 10, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste CA(SA), Financial Consultant, Speaker and Author of ‘Financially Fit and Wealthy’

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has announced an interest rate cut of 1% (100 basis points) effective from March 2020. The interest rate cut brings the repo rate down to 5,25% and the prime lending rate to 8,75%. This follows the previous cut of 0,25% that was announced three months ago in January 2020 bringing the repo rate to 6,25%. The cut in the interest rate is in response to a South African economy struggling for quite some time now.

From the heart and mind of a Social Entrepreneur

April 10, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally, Founder: Business Ecology

Together we are conceiving of the complexity and fragility of the living ecosystem we have always been a part of, but perhaps never before so harshly experienced.

Why compassionate sales is the new way of doing business

April 10, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Karen van Zyl, Founder & CEO, VA Connect and SnappSales

If you Googled “always be closing” the first page will bring up results of Alec Baldwin’s monologue in a dated movie called Glengarry Glen Ross. There was a lot of hype back then regarding this ABC monologue. And if you ask around today they’ll tell you this mind-set dead.